If the universe had listened to Anurag Kashyap’s wish, Nishaanchi would have been released eight years ago with late Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead. But each film has its destiny, and the upcoming crime drama was destined for Aaishvary Thackeray. The filmmaker recalls, “Sushant Singh Rajput agreed to play the lead, and we had made an announcement too. But then he changed his mind as he signed two big commercial films — Drive [2019] and Dil Bechara [2020]. After that, I met other actors and they all wanted to do bigger movies. Then I decided to wait for a newcomer, who would be good enough to pull off this role.”
Kashyap’s eight-year wait paid off. Today, he is launching Thackeray and Vedika Pinto with Nishaanchi, which tells the story of twins Babloo and Dabloo who have contrasting life values. “If I hadn’t found Aaishvary, I’d still be sitting on this script,” says the director, adding that the debutant’s showreel left him impressed. “In his showreel, Aaishvary did the most difficult monologues, including one of Manoj Bajpayee’s from Shool [1999]. When I cast Aaishvary and Vedika, I told their parents that if they’re doing this film, they cannot be doing anything else. They kept getting offers, but they said no to everything and trusted me. It’s difficult to mount a film like Nishaanchi if the newcomers take up another project and that doesn’t turn out to be good enough. It’s like what Aditya Chopra did with Ahaan Panday.”
As soon as Nishaanchi’s trailer dropped online, Kashyap’s fans compared it to Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). The filmmaker says the crime drama is his attempt to go beyond the 2012 offering. “After Wasseypur, everybody kept offering me the same thing. I wanted to step away from that. There’s more to North India than Wasseypur and gaalis. With Nishaanchi, I made a family drama with seeti-maar dialogues, like a Deewar [1975] or Trishul [1978], rather than a gangster film.”
Sushant Singh Rajput and Anurag Kashyap
Sushant Singh Rajput agreed to play the lead, and we had made an announcement too. But then he changed his mind as he signed two big commercial films — ‘Drive’ and ‘Dil Bechara’: Anurag Kashyap
